I have been working on a very long term project whereas I do a brief recap of Twins games on my “In This Day in Twins History Pages.” So my plan is to give you a brief recap of the Twins first season as it plays out on a weekly basis. For more info on a particular game you can also click on the date and go to the appropriate “In This Day in Twins History Page” as there you will often get to see some player pictures and supporting documentation. We will see how long I can keep up with it, no promises. So let’s see what we have for week two.
Prior to play on April 20 the Twins are 5-1 and in first place in the American League one game up on the Detroit Tigers.
Thursday April 20 – No Game Today as the Twins prepare to play their first ever home game at Met Stadium against the Washington Senators. Twins players, coaches and Twins management take part in a two-hour motorcade through Minneapolis and St. Paul while riding in convertibles.
Friday April 21 – Back in the day when the Minneapolis Morning Tribune cost 7 cents, the Minnesota Twins played their inaugural home game at Metropolitan stadium but came away with a loss against Joe McClain and the Washington Senators. The Senators score two in the top of the ninth off reliever Ray Moore and took a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Bob Allison reached on an error. McClain then struck out Jim Lemon but Earl Battey singled to right and the Twins had runners at the corners. That was it for McClain as the Senators brought in reliever Dave Sisler and the Twins countered by bringing in 40 year old Elmer Valo to pinch-hit for Reno Bertoia. Valo walked to load the bases and the Twins then brought in pinch-hitter Hal Naragon to hit for Billy Gardner. Naragon popped up to the shortstop and the Twins found themselves down to the last out. That last Twins batter was Pete Whisenant but Sisler struck him out and the Twins were 5-3 losers in their first ever home game. According to the paper McClain and Sisler needed just 94 pitches to beat Minnesota in a game that lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes. Don Mincher hit the Twins first home run at Met Stadium and Lenny Green also hit a home run later in the game. Twins starter Camilo Pascual went 8 innings allowing 8 hits and 3 runs but got a ND for his work on this day. 24,606 fans attended the Twins first home game and team ownership was disappointed that the game was not a sell-out with about 6,000 seats sitting empty. Temperature at game time was 63 degrees. There were no line-up cards available so Twins manager Cookie Lavagetto and Senators manager Mickey Vernon had to scribble their line-ups on pieces of scrap paper. Box Score
Saturday April 22 – The Washington Senators and the Twins are tied 4-4 after 9 innings at Met Stadium. The Twins hold the Senators scoreless in the top of the tenth and in the bottom of the inning the Twins load the bases with one out and Zoilo Versalles hits a Sac fly to center off Senators pitcher Dave Sisler to score Earl Battey and the Twins have their first ever walk-off win. Twins starter Pedro Ramos (2-0) went 8 innings striking out 7, allowed 4 run and got a ND for his effort. Don Mincher hits the games only home run and Twins reliever Bill Pleis ups his record to 2-0. St. Paul Mayor George Vavoulis throw out the games first pitch. Box Score
Sunday April 23 – The Twins play their first 1-0 game in their short history and come up winners at Met Stadium when Jack Kralick pitches a complete game 4 hit shutout of the Washington Senators and up their record to 7-2. Kralick also knocks in the Twins lone run of the game with a fifth inning single. Box Score
Monday April 24 – After a short three-game homestand the Twins hit the road. The Twins come from behind by scoring 3 in the top of the 9th to tie and 4 in the top of the 10th when Earl Battey hits a bases-clearing double and Reno Bertoia follows with another double to score Battey and the Twins go on to beat the KC A’s 10-6 at Municipal Stadium. The A’s starter in this game was Don Larsen. Box Score
Tuesday April 25 – A tough day in Municipal Stadium in Kansas City as the A’s pound seven Twins pitchers in a 20-2 Twins defeat. Twins reliever Fred Bruckbauer made his first and only big league appearance in this game when he came in to pitch in the top of the fourth inning and gave up a double, a single, a walk and a double before getting pulled. Bruckbauer was charged with 3 earned runs and since he never again pitched in the big leagues his ERA stands at infinity. Bruckbauer is the first native Minnesotan to make his major league debut wearing the Minnesota Twins colors. Twins starter Ted Sadowski gave up 7 earned runs in 2.2 innings and reliever Paul Giel gave up 7 earned in 1/3 of an inning. Norm Bass went the distance for the A’s giving up 7 hits and 9 walks but still got the “W”. Box Score
Wednesday April 26 – No Twins game today as the Twins travel to the West coast to take on the Los Angeles Angels.
At the close of play on April 26 the Twins are 8-3 and in second place in the American League a half game behind the Detroit Tigers.